Dry pipe valve



Feb. 1.9, 1952' A. c. RowLEY DRY PIPE VALVE s sheets-*sheet 1 Filed July 2l, 1950 DRY PIPE VALVE Filed `July 21, 1950 5 Sheets-She'efI 3 Patented Feb. 19, 1952 DRY PIPE VALVE Arthur G.. Rowley, Drexel Hill, Pa., assignor to Globe Automatic ,Sprinkler Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 21, 1950, Serial No. 175,151

ilaims- (Cl. 169-19) 1 This invention relates to an improvement 'in valves of the type employed in dry pipe sprinkler systems, said valves lfunctioning to separatethe sprinkler system from the water .supply main under normal conditions and comprising means operative automatically as a result of the opening of one or more of the sprinkler heads of said system to release the valve element for actuation by pressure of the Water in the main to admit the water to the previously dry system.

An object of the invention is to provide a valve having superior functional properties -as 'hereinafter set forth.

Another primary object is -to provide improved means for `releasably latchi-ng the valve element in seated position.

More speciiically stated the invention contemplates provision in a simple and inexpensive assembly of a highly efcient, substantially foolproof latching device, as hereinafter described in detail.

A still further object igs to provide novel means for releasably retaining the valve element in open position so as to preclude reseating of the element after initial actuation until such time as the dry pipe system is to be restored -to operative condition.

The invention resides also in certain no-vel structural and mechanical details hereinafter described and illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a dry pipe valve made in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the valve;

Fig. 3 is a corresponding sectional `view showing the valve element in elevated position, but moving toward the seat after release 4from the supporting member;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are views -in perspective of separate elements of the gasket device, said elements being broken away in part to more clearly illustrate their structural form;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged View `in perspective o f the valve elementor clapper;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view in perspective of one of the valve latch elements;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view Qn thelineB-S, Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view 'on the line lll-40, Fis. 2, and

Fig. \11 is a sectional View on the line II-f-I I, Figa-2.

With reference vto fthe Ydrawings, Ithe valve comprises -the usual vcasing I which .in .service is attached at the 'bottom to a water supply :pipe

ork main -2 and at the upper end to the sprinkler system 3. Within the casing I is a valve .element 4 which is mounted upon an arm 5 pivotally supported at E in the casing. Normally the valve element or clapper 4 will seat upon the upper end of a bushing 'l which is threaded into the inner end of the inlet port 8 of the casing which communicates with the main 2. When thus seated, the clapper separates the main lfrom the chamber 9 in the upper portion of the valve casing which communicates with the `dry pipe system 3. The clapper is normally maintained in seated position against the pressure of the water in the main by a la-tching lever `II which is pivotally mounted `upon `a pin I2 in the ycasing and which engages the clapper 4 as indicated at I3, Fig. 2, said lever being retained under normal conditions in this Valve lock-ing position by means of a plunger I4 whichis slidably mounted in a cylindrical guide Vl5 in `the wall of the casing.

Under normal conditions 4air pressure in the chamber 9 acting upon the interior -of 4a bellows diaphragm I6 through a -port l0 Yconnecting .the chamber l9 with a chamber 8l which communicates lwith the interior of -the diaphragm, maintains a slidably supported sleeve I'I in arrelatively extended position wherein it acts through a cam 2-Il to maintain a number of small spherical elements I8 in position -to engage the inner shouldered end portion of the plunger I4 so as `to prevent retraction of -the latter vfrom the advanced latch-retaining position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. Release of the pressure within the chamber 9 resulting from opening of'a sprinkler head tends to equalize the pressure in the interior chamber BI with the atmospheric pressure in a chamber 82 between the bellows diaphragm yI6 and the protective casing 83 for the diaphragm and permits a spring I9 at the outer end of the sleeve I'I to move that sleeve inwardly. The'inward movement of ythe sleeve I1 releases the spherical elements I8 for radial displacement from the sides of the plunger VHl so that the plunger is released and will move outwardly under pressure exerted against the clapper `l by the water in the main 8 acting through the latch lever II, When thelever II is thus released, the clapper will `be forced by the pressure of the waterinthe main 8 toa position shown inbroken lines in Fig. 2, thereby admitting water to -the dry'pipe .sprinkler system. 'To provide for atmospheric pressure within vthe chamber 82, -a check Valve 84 is provided in the lower wall of the .casing 83.v The valve 84 .-is normally open .to the atmosphere and is adapted to `be .closed when the pressure in the chamber 82 exceeds a predetermined limit in the event that the diaphragm should break or develop a leak so as to permit liquid under pressure in the chamber 9 to enter the chamber 82. The above-described pressureresponsive means constitutes no part of the present invention.

'I'he bushing 1 is provided with concentric seats 2| and 22 which are separated by a recess 23, said recess extending continuously around the circumference of the bushing. At one side the bushing has a port 24 which opens outwardly from the recess 23, said port being threaded for reception of one end of a pipe 25 the outer end of which extends through an opening 26 in the wall of the casing I and communicates with the interior of a fitting 21 attached to the outer side of said wall. The opening 26 is sealed by mean/ of a suitable stuffing box 28.

The valve element 4 has an annular seating surface 29 which is arranged for registration with the seat 2| oi' the bushing 1. The surface 29 defines the rim 3| of a dished recess 32 on the underside of the valve element, said element also having at the center of said recess a depending boss 33 which is provided with `a. tapped recess 34. The inner end of this recess lies within a protuberance 35 at the top of the valve body. A disc 36 is secured against the lower face of the boss 33 by means of a screw 31 threaded into the tapped hole 34 as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

A dished gasket 38 is fitted to the recess 32 and has a central aperture 39 for the depending cylindrical boss 33. The gasket 38 is provided at its outer edge or rim with an outwardly projectlng ilange 4| which overlies the rim 3| so that when the valve is seated, this iiange will be confined between the seating surface 2| of the bushing 1 and the opposed seating surface 29 of the valve element. The gasket 38 also comprises at its outer edge an inwardly projecting flange 42 which, when the valve is seated, contacts the inner seating surface 22 of the bushing. The gasket also has an annular flange 43 which projects downwardly centrally below the flanges 4! and 42 and is arranged to enter the recess 23 in spaced relation to both the inner and outer side walls of that recess. The gasket 38 is held in place in the recess 32 by the disc 36, which, as shown in Fig. 2, extends radially over the lower surface of the gasket to a position overlying the ilange 42.

Preferably the gasket 38 is formed as illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of three elements; an outer dished element 44 which may be of exible rubber or other suitable material and which has at its outer edge or rim and integral therewith the out-turned flange 4|; an inner dished element 45, this element also being composed of resilient rubber or other suitable gasket material and having integral therewith the inturned iiange 42; and an intermediate dished element 46, this element being made of relatively thin metal or other suitable rigid or semi-rigid material and having as an integral part thereof the depending flange 43. In assembiv, these elements are laid together in nested relation as illustrated and are held together by means of the clamping disc 3S. They may be readily removed from the recess 32 oi' the valve element by removal of the screw 31 and disc 36 for replacement of all or any of the component dished elements. The above-described valve and gasket assembly is described in greater detail in vdivisional application, Serial No. 234,276, illed June 29, 1951.

With reference further to the device for retaining the valve element 4 seated against water pressure in the main, and with reference particularly to Fig. 10, it will be noted that the pin I2 which supports the lever I I is mounted in bosses 5| and 52 which project inwardly from the opposite side walls of the casing and which are provided with cylindrical bores, 53 and 54 respectively, for reception of the ends of the pin. Both bores extend completely through the wall of the casing, the outer end of the bore 53 being normally closed by a detachable cover element 55 on the casing I, said cover normally closing a port 56 in the side of the casing I through which access may be had to the valve and associated elements in the interior of the casing. The outer end of the bore 54 is normally closed by a plug 51 threaded into the casing wall. It will be apparent that with this arrangement the pin I2 may be readily removed from the casing by iirst removing the cover 55 and the plug 51 and by then exerting pressure through the medium of a suitable tool on one end of the pin. Removal of the pin in this manner releases the latch lever I I and permits withdrawal of the lever through the opening' 53.

In accordance with the invention means is provided for mechanically detachably connecting the upper end of the lever II with the proximate end of the plunger I4. The connecting device consists of a bifurcated member 58 pivotally mounted on the lever through the medium of a pin 59 (see Figs. 2 and 8 to 10 inclusive), said member straddling the upper end of the lever I I as best illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 and project ing beyond the side .of the lever so as to embrace a radially enlarged head 6I at the inner end of the plunger I4. As illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, each of the bifurcations or sides 62 and 63 of the member 58 is provided toward its free end with an inturned shoulder 64 which overlaps the inner face of the head 6I and thereby interlocks the member 5B with the plunger in a manner such that oscillatory movement of the lever about the pivot pin I2 must normally be accompanied by an axial or longitudinal movement of the plunger I4.

It will be noted, however, that the lever may be disconnected from the plunger by adjustment of the member 58 clockwise about the pin 59 from the normal operative position in which the member is shown in Fig. 2, and in Fig. 3 the lever is shown thus disconnected from the plunger. In order to limit the clockwise angular x movement of the member 58 from the normal position and to insure its return by gravity to the said normal position, the lever is provided at its upper end with a projecting lug 65 which is positioned for engagement with the rear inclined surface 66 of the member 58, it being noted that when the surface 65 is in contact with the lug 95 the member 58 will still occupy an unbalanced position from which it is returned by gravity to the normal position shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This simple interlocking device between the lever II and the plunger I4, while highly effective for the purpose of uniting these elements for their normal functions, still permits quick detachment of the lever from the plunger for removal of the lever from the assembly as described above.

In order to render this interlocking device foolproof, and to insure operativeness of the interlocked operative relation between the lever and plunger, the member 58 is formed so that movement of the lever II to the left from the posiarse-gat ftin I"in fvv 'ichfilt A'is "showiin `-`3'and resul-t'- iifijrg contest between the suaves forward fed-:ges --61"of *the d"inen-ilrie'r 5B and the c'r'ic'al 'surface Q8 at the extremity of the plunger I4, willcam "thelfenber-'ss ipvvaruiyaboutfthepin 59 so as to brigfgtheifsh'oulders v64 into position-above-and behind 'the Vheard "6 I of Athe plunger, the "b`e`r 55'8 thenrdopping into place -by `gravity lock the parts together vlas previously described.

iislprfeviously noted, the rever 'n 'vruigetrims to `reta-'in fthe fva-lveielerrrent '-4V vseated `pending factul'ation-of the fva-lvefb'y relasefo'fthe pressure-'air in the sprinklerlpipes. y 'If/he' operative'po'sition'bf the V1`evris illustrated in Fig. 2 wherein it Will be noted that the .projecting lug 69 on the valve body project'simde'r*ashoulder 1I on the lever. L'It Will be notd also ltha't A the -c'u1"v`ed underside 'l2 of the lug 69 engages a pin 'ISMmO'un'teiI-in the lever, the rafunction of this :pin -beingjhereinafter described. Assuming pressure air in the chamber s anula-Iso in the interpreti-trie sleevellfrwithin :the bellows I6, 'the 'parts `will be retained in fthe' positions in `which `they are "shownffiii V4Fig. 12, 'the air pressure functionin'gt' r:extend "the bellows -VI 6 v'and thereby A'hold :the element 2li-Tof the sleeve VII Ain operativepfsitio'n with respect 'to-the spherical-elements I8, holding those elements in place to lock the plunger I4 in the advanced position shown, and thereby holding the lever II in the operative position against the pressure of the water at the port 8. Release of the pressure air from the chamber 9, which occurs upon the opening of one of the sprinkler heads, will permit the spring I9 to collapse the Sylphon bellows IG and move the sleeve Il to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, so as to release the spherical elements I8 and permit the plunger I4 to move to the left. Water pressure acting on the underside of the clapper 4 will then force the lever II counterclockwise around the pin I2 releasing the clapper 4 and permitting it to turn back under the inilux of Water to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5.

In order to prevent the return of the clapper to its seat, except deliberately in the process of resetting the valve, I provide a pivoted member 14 which when in its normal position as shown in Fig. 2, functions to limit the return o1 the clapper 4 towards its seat. The member 'I4 is pivotally mounted on a pin 'I5 which projects l inwardly from a boss 16 on the inner wall of the casing, as shown in Fig. 11, and is normally supported in the substantially horizontal operative position shown in Fig. 2. The outer end of the member 'I4 lies in the path of a lug 'I'I which projects from the side of the clapper 4 as best shown in Fig. 7 so that as the clapper is thrown back, as described above, the lug will engage the underside of the member 'I4 and will turn this element counterclockwise to the extent permitting` the lug 'Il to pass. the member I4 then returning toV the normal position by gravity. In this position the outer end I8 of the member 'i4 again lies in the path of the lug Il so that when the valve element drops back toward its seat the lug T.' will engage the end of the member I4 as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 2. whereby .the return movement of the clapper will I be interrupted. The clapper may be readily released, however, by eleva-tion of the member 'I4y to which access may be had after removal of the cover 55 as previously described.

Let it be assumed that the flow of Water to the port 8 has been stopped and that it is desired to return the system to normal service condition.

elevated to release the clapper '4-sojtliatitii`1y return to tsst l"the lpp'e' 1'1"tp'sdtavv'll-y Wardly by Vgravity th vciliv'eii `vs'lirfiafc 125er tl lugro' of the Mapper `win hrsg-engage merisier surface of vthe lug fof thej--lever -Il 'sshotvn in YFig; 3 and will vforce that :lever to the 'left Vvso aste permitthe dappert Vcontinueits@detvmv'ard movement tinil'aids the seat.V Subsequently 'the 'Surface 72 of the clapperwill'forciblyfengagethe pin 13, the impact of the clapper'tlienftending` t0 ca'iy the lever 4Il `to the right into'tlie-opeativ' clapper-locking position shown i2. It Will be 'noted that at Athe beginning 'of thislnove* merit, i. 'iat the llni'iet the clapper 'Fis-re leased fffvrom 'the retaining in"einher M "the lever l-I Wil-l occupy vfa, 'position dtermine' -ly'nga'gementor the projection 'I9atthfbe'btheflevi' With the adjoining wall of the casing. l'lorm'ally :into "me mehr of the 'sleeve |41 :to fthe an fadvahce o'f the sph' icai 'elements into 'oper'- quent application of airpes's'r tothe'dry -ppe system, transmitted to the interior of the bellows past the plunger I4, will act to lock the parts in the operative position shown in Fig. 2.

If in resetting the parts the member 58 has inadvertently been left unattached to the plunger I4 as shown in Fig. 3,'the initial impact of the lug 59 on the lugT 65 as described above will drive the lever II forcibly to the left and will eiect an automatic connection of the member 58 with the plunger. If the connection fails on the initial impact, subsequent action oi' the clapper against the lever will invariably result in the interlocking of the member 58 with the h ead of the plunger so that when the clapper engages the pin 'I3 as described, the parts will be carried to the operative positions shown in Fig. 2.

The device described above aords a simple,

- substantially foolproof, and relatively inexpensive assembly, highly eflicient in operation and readily assemblable and disassemblable as may be required.

I claim:

1.` A dry pipe valve comprising a casing adapted for installation betweenv fluid supply and dry pipe systems, a valve element movably supported in the casing and means providing a seat for said valve, said element being arranged for unseating by pressure of liquid in the supply system, and means for releasably retaining the valve element seated against said pressure, said retaining means including an element-retaining latch engageable with the valve element means on the valve element tending to displace the latch from the engaged position when :the valve element; is unseated by said liquid pressure, a movable member operable in an advanced position to hold the latch in valve retaining position against said displacing tendency, means for releasably interlocking said member with the latch for movement with the latter; and means responsive to Iluid pressure in the dry pipe system for. holding the member in the advanced position `when the said system pressure exceeds a predetermined value, said pressure responsive means beingreleasable when the system pressure declines .to permit the "said member to move to a retracted latch-releasing position.

2. A dry pipe valve according to claim 1 wherein the interlocking means comprises a radially enlarged head 'on said-member and a-pivoted element on vthe latch having a recess for reception o f-;said head to effect the interlock, said interlocking means being 'releasable by elevation of the recessed element about its pivot on the latch.

3. A dry pipe valve according to claim 2 including means on -the latch for preventing elevation of the recessed element beyond a point wherein gravity willtendzto return the element to an operative position with respect to the uid pressure actuated member.

...4; A dry pipe valve according to claim 3 wherein the radially enlarged head and recessed element are provided With coacting cam surfaces operative when the said member and element, after separati'omare brought together toward the interlocked positions to move the element upwardly about-its pivot to an extent admitting the said h'ead to 'the recess.

lf5. AA dry pipe valve according to claim 4 wherein' the latch is mounted so as normally to assume a position inthe path of the valve element as the latter. moves from the open toward the seated position;whereby 'impact of the element will tend tof-throwl the latch away from the said normal position in the direction ofthe holding member.

- 6. A dry pipe valve according to claim 5 wherein the latch carries at its pivoted end an element engageable by the element as it moves to its seat so as to draw the latch toward the operative latching position.

7. A dry pipe valve according to claim 1 wherein the casing is provided with a port aording access to the valve element and the valve retaining elements, together with a releasable cover plate for said port.

8. A dry pipe valve according to claim 1 including retractable means for retaining the valve element in an elevated unseated position after initial elevation by the liquid pressure.

ARTHUR C. ROWLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

